I’m not sure how I feel about it………and I’m going to have to decide soon!….I don’t think I would like the feeling of being numb from the waist down, I think that would really scare me. But I definitely think I would want some pain relief, and I don’t like the feeling of being drugged.

After over 12 hours of labour, I got one. There are different degrees of strength I think- I wasn’t numb from the waist down, but couldn’t feel contractions too much (was lovely). But once the pushing started, I could feel my baby moving down the birth canal, the tearing, the stitches…all of that I could feel. My sister couldn’t move her legs when she had hers, so there are definitely varying degrees of epidural. Just something to look into so that you know what to request:)

planning not to (who knows on the day) but I’m doing lots to educate myself and hubby on active birth and calm birth strategies to use in its place. I don’t think I’d be able to go natural without some specific skills and strategies to use instead. Not trying to be a hero or a martyr, mostly terrified about that big needle, and even more about surgery, and think there are some benefits for mum and baby if I can keep drugs out of our system.

Nope. We have planned homebirths (vbacs). Even for my hospital birth I didn’t want one (ended up with pit, epi, and cesarean). I do think that they are a great tool & can make a birth less invasive when a mom is coming to a point of maternal exhaustion (avoided a cesarean), but otherwise I prefer to avoid the risks they carry on how they can affect birth outcomes…. Moving in labor herlps get baby in optimal position & changing delivery positions help baby maneuver through the brith canal.

I’m going in with an open mind. I have absolutely no qualms about getting one, and I’ll take it if/when I need it. I’ll try other methods first though, different positions, laughing gas, fentanyl, etc. They can turn down your epidural, so that its really strong as your laboring, then turn it down so you can feel more as you’re delivering.

@Sunshine09: yell yes!!!! lol my mother explained to me that giving birth with no pain meds is like shitting out a big piece of glass. no thank you i had meds in my IV and an epidural. it did not hurt having the epidural it felt like something hot and them all the pain went away while i gave birth i felt pressure. thank God i did not need stiches i was so afraif if tearing.

@Sunshine09: trust me i hate drugs and when your in that amount of pain you just want it to go away lol i thought i could take pain but i never felt pain like that. and please dont get scared its nothing you cant handle with some help ; ) the end result is all worth it. i wish i had more kids.

my mother explained to me that giving birth with no pain meds is like shitting out a big piece of glass.

That’s not just incredibly inaccurate, but totally fear-mongering. 🙁

Having had both an epidural birth that ended in cesarean & a completely unmedicated vbac, giving birth does not feel like what was described above… at. all. I get that not all women will go natural, but getting educated knowing all the risks & benefits is what should dictate whether one is chosen, not fear of birth.